‘I heard from Alexander,’ I revealed. ‘I didn’t put it in the group chat because I didn’t want to give him the airtime, or the brain space, but you were right. He’s in Singapore.’

‘Is that all he said?’

‘He said we never should have got engaged.’

‘That son of a—’

‘He’s right though, isn’t he? I hate that he is, but … I don’t know. We’d been together so long. It seemed like the logical next step. He admitted he went about it all the wrong way, but if I push the wedding aside, I can see that he’s right. And that you guys were right, too – I deserve more than I had in that relationship.’

‘Hmmmm. And Patrick – it’s not love? It’s a fling?’

‘Okay, this really is top, top secret because it’s not my story to tell, but he was married.’

‘A divorcé, huh? Interesting.’

I shook my head, but obviously she couldn’t see that down the phone. ‘No,’ I corrected. ‘She passed away. He’s a widower.’

‘Jesus. What happened?’

‘Car accident. Two years ago.’

‘God bless him,’ she said. ‘How is he?’

‘Still loves her, obviously. Misses her. He said something ages ago, right when we first met, about not being a relationship guy …’

‘So it would definitely be a fling? Are you okay with that? Could he handle that do you think? I can’t imagine how it must feel to lose a partner …’

‘I know. It’s unbearable. But then, he’s playful. Maybe it’s flirting? And he’s so hot, Kez … I knew he was attractive, but he’s so fun, and he’s catching the sun really quickly so has got this tan thing happening, and a freckle thing happening, and we’re half naked most of the time, which heightens everything …’

‘As soon as you said he was coming with you, I think it was pretty inevitable you’d end up in bed together.’

‘Shut up!’ I volleyed back.

‘I’m not judging you! Even if you couldn’t see it, I think it was evident to everyone else. A delightful man, a hot woman like yourself, three weeks on the other side of the world? It’s a recipe for romance.’

‘Not romance,’ I warned. ‘I don’t think? Gah!’

‘I’d be surprised if he hadn’t been expecting something to happen all along. It’s written on the wall.’

‘I’m having a lot of thoughts about this.’

Kezza tittered. ‘I think if you’re careful, getting under one man to get over another could be a wonderful, exciting thing. Be gentle with him, though, and be gentle with yourself. If you called for my advice, my advice is to go for it.’